Archive for May 2012

To All Year 12 Students – I have *just* received (at 2pm on Monday 28th May) notice of a Maroondah Education Coalition Unit 3 Physics Revision Session. I *strongly* recommend that all of you attend. Here are the details:

We have spent the last two weeks studying the mechanisms behind the greenhouse effect, and also the enhanced greenhouse effect. Remember that the greenhouse effect is a natural part of Earth’s atmosphere – it helps capture heat from the Sun, and means that Earth’s climate is suitable for human life.

You need to understand that the reason that the Earth’s is habitable is that it is at a very special distance from our Sun. The Energy that our Sun gives off provides enough heat at the distance that the Earth orbits to keep water liquid. If we were much closer, water would boil into steam (like Mercury or Venus), and if we were much futher away, water would freeze into ice (like Mars or the other outer planets). This is the so-called “Habitable Zone” (or sometimes the “Goldilocks Zone” – because it is not too hot, not too cold, it’s just right) of our Sun. Earth is on the outer edge of this zone, and so the natural ability of the Earth’s atmosphere to store heat keeps the Earth environment survivable. (If you want to know more about this, try these links: 1, 2, 3, 4)

To warm up or not too. Are we having a severe effect on global warming? We have looked at science behind climate change and learnt what keeps the planet warm – Greenhouse gases, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and water vapour.

Carbon Dioxide is being examined in-depth. What levels of Carbon Dioxide do emitters actually emit? To reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide should we all hold our breath? Stop driving cars? Plant more trees? Or not worry about it?

Upon our initial diagnosis I require you to come back for further investigations. This will consist of various procedures to determine what exactly is causing you pain. Please come prepared as this may hurt your head.

We have now covered Medical imaging in-depth and everyone has demonstrated good understanding of the basics. Don’t forget to understand one modality further in-depth for the exam at the end of year.

When you are rocking through the ages don’t try to compress it all at once as it might solidify your brain. Instead an easy approach over a few occasions will layer your understanding leaving clear remnant knowledge throughout each step.

Did you understand the introduction comment? If not read it again after you have an understanding of the subject knowledge required.

Next time you are playing ‘Indian’s and Cowboy’s’ it’s recommended to not use real arrows.

Eleven-year-old Chinese schoolboy Liu Cheong was close to death when a 16-inch arrow entered his head.

The arrow was reportedly shot by a friend.

The arrow entered his skull through the eye socket and lodged in the back of his head. Amazingly the boy was spared a fatal brain injury

With advances of medical imaging we can assess what is going on inside the body and this can help determine what further actions are needed.
This technology has saved millions of surgeries. Think about it, if you went to the doctors without medical imaging and told them your knee is sore, they may just tell you to rest. If you continued to go back complaining of a sore knee, this may have eventuated in surgery, cutting the knee open and looking for the cause and treating it.

Now days they would opt for an X-ray or MRI these provide detailed images of what is going on inside.

From here the doctors can determine the cause of the sore knee and plan appropriate actions to improve pain condition of the knee.

And if it’s a knee reconstruction they can perform this through “Key Hole’ surgery using an endoscope and cutting tools.